Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2025 reference period
Top 10% Physical Therapist Salary (2026)
The top 10% of physical therapists earn $137,346 or more per year as of 2026, based on the 90th percentile of Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS wage data — the threshold at which only 10% of workers in this occupation earn more. Across U.S. metros, the 90th percentile ranges from $108,510 (lowest-paying metro) to $190,700 (highest-paying metro).
This page answers a common U.S. wage question: Top 10% Physical Therapist Salary (2026). The answer draws on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — the federal survey that captures wages for over 800 occupations across every U.S. metropolitan area. Why BLS OEWS data is the right anchor: alternative wage sources (Glassdoor, levels.fyi, Payscale) are self-reported and skew toward specific roles, industries, or geographies. BLS OEWS is employer-reported, mandatory for businesses above the survey threshold, and uniformly applied across occupations and metros.
The detailed answer below uses the BLS numbers, explains how to read them, and translates the statistical detail into the worker-relevant interpretation of the question.
90th percentile across U.S. metros, employment-weighted
What This Pay Level Means
The 90th percentile is the BLS-published wage below which 90% of workers in this occupation earn — i.e., the wage above which only the top 10% earn. Workers in this band are typically principals, directors, senior managers, or highly-specialized individual contributors at top-paying employers. Reaching this band usually requires 15+ years of experience plus deep specialization, or a move to a top-paying metro.
Most senior and management physical therapists earn at the 75th-to-90th percentile band. The median (50th percentile) is the right anchor for typical workers; the 75th percentile fits experienced specialists. See "Senior physical therapist salary" for the 75th-percentile band.
Top-Paying Metros at This Level
| Metro | Median Pay |
|---|---|
| Las Vegas, NV | $190,700 |
| San Francisco, CA | $188,070 |
| San Jose, CA | $171,560 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | $164,370 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $160,070 |
What the Numbers Tell You
Geographic pay variation for Physical Therapists is meaningful but moderate — top metros pay roughly 1.7× the lowest, a $58,910 spread. Cost of living plus a modest premium for high-demand metros explains most of it.
Roughly 163,910 Physical Therapists are employed across the metros tracked here — a sizable mid-tier occupation with reliable percentile data.
More Physical Therapist Salary Answers
Each page answers a distinct pay question for this role — by experience band, hourly rate, and how the salary stacks up:
- Entry-level physical therapist salary →
- Junior physical therapist salary →
- How much do physical therapists make →
- Senior physical therapist salary →
- How much do physical therapists make an hour →
- Is physical therapist a good salary →
How This Salary Is Calculated
Wages come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program — an annual survey of about 1.2 million U.S. establishments published by Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code and Metropolitan Statistical Area. The figure on this page is employment-weighted across 70 BLS-tracked metros for SOC code 29-1123. The mapping from BLS percentiles to experience bands (entry / junior / mid / senior / top 10%) follows the convention used by the U.S. Department of Labor's prevailing wage system. See full methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions
Top 10% Physical Therapist Salary (2026)?
The top 10% of physical therapists earn $137,346 or more per year as of 2026, based on the 90th percentile of Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS wage data — the threshold at which only 10% of workers in this occupation earn more. Across U.S. metros, the 90th percentile ranges from $108,510 (lowest-paying metro) to $190,700 (highest-paying metro).
How does this percentile compare to the median?
Physical Therapists have a national median (50th percentile) of $104,738. The 90th percentile shown on this page ($137,346) is 31% above the median — typical for this experience band.
Where do physical therapists at this level earn the most?
Las Vegas, NV pays the highest at this percentile band — $190,700. Lowest-paying tracked metro: Albany, NY at $108,510.
What years of experience does this percentile represent?
The 90th percentile is the BLS-published wage below which 90% of workers in this occupation earn — i.e., the wage above which only the top 10% earn. Workers in this band are typically principals, directors, senior managers, or highly-specialized individual contributors at top-paying employers. Reaching this band usually requires 15+ years of experience plus deep specialization, or a move to a top-paying metro.
Where does this physical therapist salary data come from?
Every wage figure comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program at bls.gov/oes — an annual federal survey of more than 1 million U.S. employers. The percentile figure on this page is employment-weighted across BLS-tracked metros.
The top 10% of physical therapists earn $137,346 or more per year as of 2026, based on the 90th percentile of Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS wage data — the threshold at which only 10% of workers in this occupation earn more. Across U.S. metros, the 90th percentile ranges from $108,510 (lowest-paying metro) to $190,700 (highest-paying metro).